- Sindh Rangers DG terms additional powers granted by Sindh government ‘nothing more than a piece of paper’
- Says Karachi situation can not improve with current system in place which facilitated criminals’ release, demands protection of witnesses
Sindh Rangers Director General Major General Rizwan Akhtar on Wednesday said that the law and order situation in the city could not improve unless the entire system was changed.
He was speaking at a news conference where he elaborated on the strategy to end unrest in Karachi and enunciated various hurdles that security forces were facing.
Maj Gen Akhtar stressed upon the need to protect witnesses in cases, saying that loopholes in the system paved way for release of criminals.
“Police department has a system but it needs more improvement. The witnesses feel insecure therefore they do not speak in courts when trials begin. It is the need of the hours to protect the eyewitnesses.”
He said scanners that were to be installed at Karachi’s entry points have not so far been provided by the government. He said that crimes could not be curbed unless illegal SIMs were completely blocked.
About the ongoing anti-criminal crackdown in Karachi, the Rangers chief said the operation started in September 2013, but after November, it could not be continued with the same momentum. He was of the view that more powers were required to the forces for a satisfactory improvement in law and order situation.
“We are making all-out efforts but the thing is that a piece of paper can’t empower us,” the Rangers DG said.
“Every culprit should be punished, but things would not improve until we speak the truth. Issues can be resolved if institutions will work with coordination,” he observed. He said that the Rangers were only given search and operation powers, adding that only soldiers in uniform were allowed to show arms.
“Some politicians call for army takeover in Karachi but nothing could be done unless the entire system is changed, no matter whosoever comes or goes,” the Rangers chief said.
He said there were 14 wings of Rangers operating in Karachi and each wing comprised 550 personnel. He said that the matters decided by Rangers at the outset of the operation could not be implemented due to various reasons.
Rangers DG said that additional power, granted to the paramilitary force by Sindh government, was not more than a ‘piece of paper’. He said Lyari was not the only locality in Karachi with issues, adding that there were other areas where the situation was not different from Lyari.